Former Portland City Council candidate Emilie Boyles had until the end of Tuesday to repay thousands of dollars of public campaign funds or face legal action, according to the Portland city auditor.

KGW photo

Former city council candidate Emilie Boyles.

City auditor Gary Blackmer said he would work with the city attorney to determine what legal means can be pursued to recover the funds if Boyles did not pay by 5 p.m.

Boyles did pay back $68,565 in June, but with interest she still owes more than $92,000, Blackmer said. A few weeks ago he sent Boyles a letter reminding her that interest was accruing and the city would be willing to establish a payment plan. However, Boyles never responded to the letter, Blackmer said.

The City of Portland has accused Boyles of accepting $150,000 in public campaign funds, then violating multiple spending rules. Last month, an Oregon judge upheld the city of Portland's order against Boyles for misspending taxpayer money in her campaign for city council.

She was cited for additional penalties for paying too much for the services of her daughter as well using public funds to pay for a telephone in her residence and to repay debts to campaign consultants.

Boyles, 40, defended paying her teenage daughter more than $12,000 to help the campaign.

She has blamed the system for her campaign problems, saying the regulations weren't specific. Other times, she said her poor finances and her epilepsy complicated her ability to follow rules.

The city argued those were not viable reasons for misspending public tax dollars.